The K-Royal Culture Festival, held in spring and fall every year, attracted last year a record 1.37 million visitors. Shown is the opening ceremony of the spring event in April 2025 at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

By Charles Audouin
Photos =Korea Heritage Service

The 12th spring edition of the K-Royal Culture Festival, a celebration of traditional culture, runs from April 25 to May 3 around the five royal palaces and Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul.

The opening ceremony is slated for April 24 at Heungnyemun Square of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Yang Jung-woong, who was artistic director of cultural events at last year's APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, will supervise the performance, which will blend royal court aesthetics with the sensibility of Korean content.

Gyeongbokgung will host large-scale interactive programs to create the Joseon royal court along with events where visitors can meet court artists and hands-on programs with masters of intangible cultural heritage. Activities for children are also scheduled.

Changdeokgung Palace will host tours in early morning and at night. A reenactment will allow participants to experience the process of Crown Prince Hyomyeong (posthumously honored as King Munjo) in 1828 preparing a banquet to celebrate the 40th birthday of his mother, Queen Sunwon (wife of King Sunjo).

Injeongjeon Hall will see gugak (traditional music) performances of court favorites like "Sujecheon" and the iconic folk songs "Taepyeongga" and "Arirang."

This scene is from "The Emperor’s Dining Table," an interactive program exclusively for foreign visitors, in April 2025 at Deoksugung Palace in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

Deoksugung Palace will host interactive programs featuring the music and culinary culture enjoyed by the imperial family of the Korean Empire. An event for sampling yangtanguk (coffee), a favorite of Emperor Gojong, and recreational activities are scheduled at Jeonggwanheon Pavilion.

Another program exclusively for foreign visitors at Jungmyeongjeon Hall will feature imperial banquet dishes that convey the taste and history of royal court cuisine.

Changgyeonggung Palace will offer a glimpse at daily life of the Joseon king and queen. At Yeongchunheon Hall, visitors can sip royal tea while reading at individual desks, and at the Grand Greenhouse, they can make scented sachets.

Visitors to Tongmyeongjeon Hall can take part in a theater play in which they meet the queen guided by a court lady. Other events include an exhibition of crafts designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage and a bojagi (traditional wrapping cloth) activity.

A night performance of Jongmyo Jeryeak, the music of royal ancestral rituals, is held in April 2025 at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

At Gyeonghuigung Palace, the art troupe of the National Heritage Promotion Institute will put on a spectacular street parade from Heunghwamun to Sungjeongmun gates, showcasing exciting traditional performing arts such as lion and Jindo drum dances and the shamanistic ritual pangut at the courtyard.

An evening performance of Jongmyo Jeryeak, the music of royal ancestral rituals designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will be staged at Jongmyo Shrine.

Reservations for programs requiring advance booking will begin on April 8. More information on the spring festival is available on the event's official website (https://www.kh.or.kr/fest) or Instagram account (@royalculturefestival_official).

caudouin@korea.kr